In Russ Kazmierczak, Jr.’s comic renderings of Arizona, superheroes travel back in time from the future to communicate with Governor Jan Brewer, Sheriff Joe sends Lou Ferrigno to the border to combat a “marijuana catapult,” and a young immigrant from Mexico finds an alien sombrero in the desert that gives…
It’s about time Phoenix sees some serious mural love. In the interest of giving credit to their artists and because we’re losing track of the times we’ve said, “Whoa, when did that go up?”, we bring you Mural City, a series on the murals springing up around town — their…
Mexican Contemporary art fans (and anyone looking to see some great local art) have until the end of the month to check out what the Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center calls a “new wave” within an old tradition.The New Wave of Mexican Contemporary Art is a collection of recent works from Phoenix artists…
During a trip to Flagstaff in the late ’80s, Melissa Zaki wandered into a bead store carrying a diamond stone with a peculiar request. She didn’t want the jeweler to create a piece for her, and she didn’t want to sell it. Instead, Zaki asked woman behind the desk to drill a…
If you’ve been to The Icehouse in downtown Phoenix in the last few weeks, you might have noticed a garden that’s slowly growing on the asphalt of the art venue’s modest parking lot along Jackson Street. The “Garden of Thorns,” as it’s called by owner Helene Hestenes, occupies about 20…
Phoenix Design Week (actually a three-week event) will begin in October, and local designers are finalizing personal projects and joining efforts to raise awareness about local design and the importance of creative collaboration. In the works, says PHXDW founder Mark Dudlik, is a pop-up Phoenix Design Museum, which will host…
The space was chosen for its claustrophobic atmosphere, says Hazine, with ceilings low enough to touch that echo foot traffic from the gallery above.”It’s the feeling of pressing down on you, and I kind of liked it. Like when you’re under water and you don’t know which way is up…
Legendary French bohemian Jean Cocteau once described art as “a marriage of conscious and the subconscious” influences — a seemingly a perfect subtitle for the new group exhibition In Your Head and Under Your Bed, which opens tonight at Modified Arts. According to the show’s curator Lindz Lew, each of the…
There’s plenty of work to do for the members of local glassblowing group Circle 6. The team was spotted setting up shop inside 501 E. Roosevelt (formerly Pravus Gallery) building shelving and additional wall space. The gallery, to-be-called Circle 6, will house artwork from the collective, as well as local glass artists. …
In October, local and national designers will unite for Phoenix Design Week, a 14-day celebration of Phoenix design and culture. And while that’s still a few months away, it’s never too early to save space for what’s shaping up to be a kickass lineup of design events. In its third year, PDW…
If the whole “law of attraction” and power of positive thinking mumbo-jumbo pimped in books like The Secret really work, then local artist Curtis R. Smith is about to make it big. That’s because in modern hip-hop lingo, the names of his signature characters Stack Bread, Mad Cheez, Mad Paper and Make It…
Scottsdale’s been on the national radar for sightings (and upcoming reality shows) on the Dirty, a possible Real Housewives series, and now, our very own city — better known by locals for its nightlife, galleries, and public art program — has a chance to claim the “best bathroom in the…
Local artist Hugo Medina (better known as just Hugo) could be likened to a tight rope walker in a circus — if the tight rope walker was also spinning plates while balancing candles on their head while juggling apples while smoking a cigar. In other words, Hugo is one busy…
It’s about time Phoenix sees some serious mural love. In the interest of giving credit to their artists and because we’re losing track of the times we’ve said, “Whoa, when did that go up?”, we bring you Mural City, a series on the murals springing up around town — their…
The local artist says she hopes her latest visual project, “I Dream” — part of an ongoing “Illustrated Dreams” exhibition at Alwun House — will explore the true face (and faces) of illegal immigration in the United States.For First Friday in August, Chavarria will hang 20 prints at Alwun House, which…
Man, the Tiki gods must be angry at Scottsdale. Earlier this year, the owners of Drift Polynesian Lounge leveled this longtime Tiki hut to make way for their see-and-be-seen party pool, Spanish Fly. And now comes word that Trader Vic’s Scottsdale is sailing off into the sunset this Saturday, July…
In February of this year, NASCAR fans had the time of their life watching three-time Daytona 500 champ Jeff Gordon in action at Phoenix International Raceway — not in his heavily branded Chevy Impala, but in the driver’s seat of a backhoe. The highly recognizable racing figure had the honor…
When I walk into the ASU Art Museum to check out the video exhibition “By myself and with my friends . . . ” I have an immediate positive reaction to the show, which probably has to do with the closely framed shot of a 700 pound seal with round…
One hears ASU Art Museum curator John Spiak’s latest show before one sees it. From the landing above the stairwell leading down to the museum’s cool, dark, barely lit gallery room where “By myself and with my friends . . .” is exhibited, one can hear the slow, steady rhythm…
